Horizon Discovery entered a four-year collaboration with Novartis. The agreement involves the use of Horizon’s Genesis™ gene-engineering platform to develop a broad panel of custom-generated, genetically defined human X-Man cancer models for use by Novartis in its drug discovery programs.

Horizon will receive up-front, milestone, and renewal fees. The deal is the second between the two companies. In December 2008, Horizon inked a commercial deal with Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research relating to ongoing access to a panel of X-Man cell-lines.